Our Brother and Messenger in Christ

Revelation 1:9-11 

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

John was first of all a fellow brother believer in Christ.  Then he was one who shared in the pressing troubles and adversity that accompanies following Christ toward His kingdom.  All who live godly in Christ Jesus will certainly suffer such persecution in some form.  He also shared with them and us the patience of the saints to endure while waiting for His return through all these pressing times.  Once John shared what we share together, he told how the revelation of Jesus came to Him from God, beginning with being imprisoned on Patmos as a result of preaching the word of God in his testimony of Jesus Christ.  The gospel brought him to that place to suffer for the kingdom’s sake.  As he was worshipping God on that Sunday, he heard the divine voice from behind him which was loud and heralding as a trumpet.  There was no still small voice as with Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12, but a ruling voice of the Omnipotent One addressing John personally and directly.  He is the beginning and end of all things, the first and the last for our salvation.  Jesus Christ the divine was in the beginning speaking the universe into existence, and will be at the end of time when eternity begins for us in the place He already rules from forever to forever.  He was the firstborn from the dead who resurrected Himself as the first fruit with us to follow in Him.  He is the last Adam and final judge of the world by God’s wrath and grace.  This one addressed John and commanded him to write what he would see to read to the churches present then and to all those till the end.